9/20/2007

BEAR CREEK KICKS OFF SNOWBOARDING SEASON WITH BURTON LEARN TO RIDE PACKAGE, GROUP LESSONS AND WOMEN’S SNOWBOARDING CLINICS

Macungie, PA - To kick off this year’s snowboarding season, Bear Creek Mountain Resort, located in the heart of Berks County, Pennsylvania, will offer a number of special snowboarding programs, including a value rate on its Burton Learn to Ride program. The Burton Learn To Ride package includes a lift ticket for beginner lifts and an hour and a half group lesson, plus the rental of a Burton Learn to Ride board, boots and bindings.

The Burton Learn To Ride program differs from regular ski/snowboard schools by offering structured instruction with Burton equipment created specifically for beginners, a low student-to-teacher ratio, and appropriate terrain to make learning to snowboard as painless and as easy as possible. Bear Creek is one of only a few Pennsylvania resorts to offer the program for enthusiasts of all ages.

The Learn to Ride ticket is good from open to close on the date of purchase and the package costs $45 on weekdays and $50 on weekends and holidays. Lessons are offered daily at 10:00 a.m., Noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All participants in this program must be at least six years old.

The First Time on Skis lift ticket is valid on the following lifts and trails: D lift, E lift, Brown Bear, Cub Run, Paw Prints, Teddy Bear and Drifter. If there are fewer than five students in a class, the lesson will be one hour. Helmet rentals are not included in the cost of this package, but may be added for six dollars. For additional information, call 1-866-ski-at-BC or visit www.skibearcreek.com/summer/winter_schoolburton.aspx.

Bear Creek is also one of the few resorts to offer Burton women’s specific snowboard gear for all female riders. The resort soon will be accepting snowboarding students for this season’s Alpine Women’s three-day clinic.

“We’re looking forward to the upcoming snowboarding season. It’s by far the fastest growing segment of our snowsports division,” says Chuck Takacs, Bear Creek’s Resort Services Manager. “With our LTR program, women’s clinics, and group lessons, we’re looking for more first-timers, whether they’re kids or grandparents, to get in on this wildly popular sport.”

For those who want to learn or improve their snowboarding, but are looking for a more in-depth program, Bear Creek offers a six-session program that includes six lift tickets valid any midweek, non-holiday day or any evening. Guests can also add lessons or rentals to the program for an additional fee. The program is available for groups of 15 or more, but the group does not have to come at the same time or on the same day. Tickets simply must be purchased under the same group name. For pricing and/or additional information, visit www.skibearcreek.com/summer/winter_groups.aspx.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort boasts the highest snowmaking density of any mountain in Pennsylvania, featuring 100 percent snowmaking coverage and 120 total snow guns, including 20 new automated tower mounted snow guns. These new automated guns will utilize weather stations to continuously deliver optimum snowmaking efficiency. The use of automated snowmaking will allow Bear Creek to open trails earlier in the season and maintain snow depth and surface conditions throughout the winter.
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About Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Bear Creek Mountain Resort is nestled on over 330 acres in Macungie, Pennsylvania. The resort offers skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing winter activities and hiking, biking, fishing and boating during the spring through fall months. Guests can plan an event in the spacious banquet and meeting facilities, dine at the bar and restaurant, The Grille at Bear Creek, relax at the full service salon and spa, The Spa at Bear Creek, or vacation at the hotel, The Inn at Bear Creek, with indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs.

About the Learn to Ride Program
Originally developed in 1998 by Burton, one of the most recognized names in the winter sports arena, the goal of this program is to provide the best initial snowboarding experience and make learning to ride easy and fun. . Burton has designed an entire line of equipment specifically for the LTR program and first time snowboarders. The snowboard has slightly beveled edges that keep it from catching in the snow as easily as regular snowboards. The step-in bindings keep the focus on learning, not on fussing with gear.

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